Cathedral to Host Myrrhstreaming Hawaii Iveron Icon of the Mother of God

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- Christ the Saviour Cathedral will have the honor of hosting the Myrrhstreaming Hawaii Iveron Icon of the Mother of God on Wednesday October 20, 2010 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. Upon its arrival, a Moleben to the Theotokos will be served by the Cathedral Dean, the Very Rev. Protopresbyter Frank P. Miloro. Following the service, the faithful in attendance will have the opportunity to venerate the icon.

All Diocesan and Local Orthodox Clergy and faithful are cordially invited to participate in this opportunity for prayer and intercession in the presence of this wonderworking icon. To accomodate those who are not able to attend, and share this blessing with those confined to home, the entire visitation of the icon will be broadcast live via the world wide web.

It is anticipated that the visitation will be archived for later viewing here

This wonder working icon is an exact replica of a famous myrrh-streaming icon in Montreal of the Theotokos ("Mother of God") of Iveron. It is a paper print mounted on wood, manufactured in Russia and purchased in Toronto by a priest who gave it to a Russian Orthodox believer in Honolulu in 2007.

In October of that year, the owner, Nectarios, noticed the sweet smell of roses in his study. An investigation caused him to discover this icon was exuding small drops of myrrh, coming from the Virgin's eyes and dripping down the panel.

He later took it to his parish church where it continued to emit this sweet-smelling substance. It became quite famous in Hawaii, and a large number of visitors from all Christian traditions have come to visit the icon, "feeling the grace of God" in its presence. Some days the icon is dry and others it is completely covered in myrrh. Yet it continuously gives off the scent of roses.

In June 2008, the Holy Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon was "officially recognized by Archbishop Kyrill of the Russian Orthodox Church as miraculous and genuine and given the blessing to travel to churches of Holy Orthodoxy."

The icon, which is enshrined in a home chapel in Honolulu, has been credited with numerous healings during the past three years.